Bowman says Steeves should take own advice on dropping out of race

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This article was published 28/08/2014 (3525 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brian Bowman has condemned rival Gord Steeves’ suggestion one of the two Conservative-affiliated candidates should drop out of Winnipeg‎’s mayoral race in order to ensure the NDP-affiliated Judy Wasylycia-Leis does not win in October.

In the wake of Thursday poll results that showed Steeves and Bowman virtually tied for second behind Wasylycia-Leis, Steeves suggested in a statement other right-of-centre candidates should‎ drop out to prevent the NDP from assuming control of city hall.

At a Friday morning press conference at his Portage Avenue campaign headquarters, Bowman said he’ll be on the ballot on Oct. 22 and said if Steeves wants to drop out, he should go ahead and do so.

He dismissed Steeves’ move as “backroom politics” befitting of “old-guard” politicians. Bowman also said the fellow laywer tried to c‎onvince him not to run for mayor last fall in a meeting at Hy’s lounge in the Richardson Building.

Bowman said Steeves is angling for the far right and said Wasylycia-Leis is on the far left of the political spectrum. He said he wants to appeal to people of all political persuasions and said he’s heartened by poll results that show his popularity rising.

Bowman said he does not believe Wasylycia-Leis’ time as a political backbencher amounts to leadership experience. As for Steeves, Bowman said he doesn’t know where his rival’s head is at — and surmised it may be “up in the clouds, with his drones.”

Charleswood-Tuxedo Coun. Paula Havixbeck, ranked ‎fifth in the mayoral-race polls, also condemned Steeves’ statement. She cancelled press conference slated for Friday morning.

Steeves has called a conference of his own for 1 p.m.